What are PSScriptPolicyTest Powershell Files?

Products

• Carbon Black App Control (formerly Cb Protection)
• Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard (formerly Cb Defense)
• Carbon Black Cloud Enterprise EDR (formerly Cb Threathunter)
• Carbon Black EDR (formerly Cb Response)

Issue/Introduction

What are PSScriptPolicyTest powershell files used for within Windows?

Environment

• Microsoft Windows: All Versions
• Microsoft Powershell: All Supported Versions

Resolution

These files are randomly generated by Microsoft and execution is attempted to determine which Language Mode PowerShell will run in when using AppLocker.

• Allowing them to execute enables Full Language Mode in PowerShell.
• Blocking them from execution enables Constrained Language Mode in PowerShell.

Additional Information

• Constrained Language Mode helps to reduce the attack surface of PowerShell.
• Full Language Mode grants access to any language element and therefore to any Windows API.
• If using App Control, it is highly recommended to create a Custom Rule and ABExclusion to prevent the information from being returned to the Server.